The Intelligence & Autonomy Initiative aims to reframe debates around the rise of machine intelligence.

The Intelligence & Autonomy Initiative develops grounded, qualitative research in order to provide nuanced understandings of emerging technologies and to inform the design, evaluation, and regulation of AI-driven systems.

Rather than focus on utopian dreaming or dystopian fears, our work begins from the position that the historical and social contexts in which AI systems emerge and operate should be central to debates about their uses and potential effects. We believe that structures of governance and accountability need to be informed from the bottom-up, with rich and textured understandings of real world conditions on the ground. To contribute to and develop these understandings, we produce empirical research as well as engage a range of stakeholders, aiming to foster productive interdisciplinary and inter-institutional conversations.

I&A is supported by a research grant from The Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund, and was previously supported by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Microsoft Research.